‘I’m going to beat him in every aspect’ – Stipe Miocic vows to dethrone Jon Jones at UFC 295

Stipe Miocic is adamant he is going to regain the UFC heavyweight championship when he squares off against Jon Jones at UFC 295 on November 11 at Madison Square Garden.

The 40-year-old holds the record for the most title defences in the UFC’s heavyweight division but faces one of the biggest challenges of his career as he takes on Jones, who is renowned as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.

Jones, 35, has a chequered past in the organisation and has been at the centre of various controversies, but few deny his ability inside the octagon. However, where some have been overawed by the occasion, Miocic has vowed to take the fight to his foe and make sure it’s contested on his terms.

“I’m not going to let him dictate what he wants to do,” Miocic told Anthony Smith and Michael Bisping on the

video podcast.

“I’m going to dictate what I want to do. I’m going to do what I want. The minute I let him stop doing what I want, I’ve lost the fight.

“But if I do what I want, my chances are a lot better of winning than losing.”

Jones made the jump to heavyweight from light heavyweight after his 2020 win over Dominick Reyes but wouldn’t fight again for more than three years as he took an extended break to get comfortable at his new division.

A bout with Francis Ngannou was touted for his return before the Cameroonian announced his departure from the UFC. That paved the way for Jones to take on and conquer Cyril Gane for the vacant belt, making him one of a select few to win titles at different weight classes.

As for Miocic, he last featured at UFC 260 in March of 2021, losing via a brutal knockout to Ngannou. Since then, the former part-time firefighter has gone full-time, leaving some to question his dedication to the formidable task at hand against a heavier Jones.

“I’m doing everything I’m supposed to,” he added. “I haven’t changed anything I’ve done. I can still work out at the station. It’s not like every day is a sparring day, or a pad day – it’s conditioning, lifting. There’s recovery days. I don’t understand people.

“I’m walking out with the belt wrapped around my waist – and new, there’s no question about that. I’m going to beat him in every aspect of the game. I’m going for the finish.”